Leonhard “disappointed” in Jets fans for getting on Sanchez

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on November 30, 2011, 11:07 AM EDT

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Mark Sanchez had perhaps the ugliest four touchdown performance of all time last Sunday against the Bills.

That game started poorly and finished well, like so many of Sanchez’s biggest wins. The home crowd didn’t wait, however, to let Sanchez know how they felt about him. They booed him in pregame introductions.

“I think we have a great crowd,” safety Jim Leonhard told WFAN Tuesday via the New York Daily News. “I think probably for one of the first times I was kind of disappointed. Our starting quarterback gets booed in introductions. As players, you kind of turn to each other and say, ‘You know what? I guess we’re in this one today by ourselves.

“We can’t rely on the crowd to give us that energy because it’s already started off on a bad note.’ So I will say that this past weekend was really the first time that I’ve been kind of frustrated going into a game, which is bad.”

The booing didn’t end in warmups. Sanchez got an earful when things weren’t going well early in the game. Sanchez doesn’t deny hearing it all.

46 responses to “Leonhard “disappointed” in Jets fans for getting on Sanchez”

It’s cool that the guy is sticking up for his teammate like that but unfortunately, no good comes from players making any sort of negative comments about fans, even if they are 100% right in their comments.

I absolutely DESPISE booing of one’s own team’s players though. Only way I would do it is some extreme circumstance like they murdered someone and the team hung on to them or something. But to boo over a guy struggling? 100% a fan’s right to do, but lame. I’m not being namby pamby: players certainly have to have skin thick enough to deal with comments/booing and if they whine about it, that’s lame too.

Sanchez is not a top 5 NFL QB despite the media fellatio this chump receives. Jets and their fans are waking up to this finally. This is not to say Sanchez can’t be successful, but you need to make adjustments to how you’ll win if your QB isn’t dependable.

There are expectations, and rightly so. The Jets traded up to get the guy, and he’s an extremely inaccurate passer. Maybe it’s not his fault that the draft position is not matched by his development, but the fans have a right to let Sanchez know he’s underperforming.

Always amazing when a professional whines about not being loved by the hometown crowd. This is a direct result of their toe jam sucking head coach shooting off his mouth all the time. He should take the hint and stop promising the fans something his team and QB can’t deliver.

Probably won’t though as he seems to be as hard headed as his old man was.

For some reason, This team performs better When playing the underdog!! In 2009. Thank you. Colts will take that!! Last season I believe losing three of our last five games, back to back AFC championship games is A pretty decent accomplishment Especially for a team Backing into the playoffs as the sixth seed!! Thanks for great defense and a running game Sanchez was able to hide his flaws I believe in him and I believe he can do it this year!!!!
J.E.T.S Jets Jets Jets!!!!

If the Jets had an average QB they would already have the super bowl win that Rex keeps promising. The Jets have a below average QB that DESERVES being booed. And as for Leonhard, I’m sure he’s still having nightmares about Tebow.

Sanchez is a third year qb, who played one year college ball as a starter and is coming off of an abbreviated off season shortened by a lockout. He will be fine. He will be more than fine. He is a winner. Hey mark, no matter what, you got to strut!

This isn’t college. These players get paid a lot of money to perform on the field and put W’s in the win column. When said players are not performing and the people who foot the bill are not pleased, then they have every right to boo.

The fans in the Northeast will always let the players know when they are upset over a players performance. Be it Philly, Boston or NYC, it is how things are in the region. Pro’s understand this and they may not like it, but it is not going to change. This area of the country is very competitive so it goes with the territory.

Leonhard is right. Fans should not be booing Sanchez. Instead, they should be booing Brian Schottenheimer. Sanchez has all the skills to be a very good to great QB in the NFL if he plays to his strengths. Unfortunately, for the past 3 years his OC has put him in horrible positions, basically impeding his development. This guy is still 23-24?? I say the Jets miss the playoffs and next year bring in a new OC who can make Sanchez into a valuable running quarterback.